Yanks’ Nuno, three relievers hold struggling Sox to three hits in 6-0 win

New York's Kelly Johnson (33) rounds third base after hitting a two-run home run against Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Brandon Workman (67) during the fourth inning of a game at Yankee Stadium in New York Friday night.

By Larry Fleisher, The Sports Xchange

Posted June 27, 2014, at 10:11 p.m.

NEW YORK — Left-hander Vidal Nuno and three relievers combined on a three-hitter as the New York Yankees blanked the Boston Red Sox, 6-0, Friday night in the opener of a three-game series at Yankee Stadium.

Third baseman Kelly Johnson and catcher Brian McCann hit two-run home runs and left fielder Brett Gardner added a solo home run for the Yankees, who have won six of eight meetings with Boston this season. First baseman Mark Teixeira added a sacrifice fly while shortstop Derek Jeter had two hits.

Nuno (2-4) won for the first time in nine starts by allowing two hits in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out five, walked two and retired eight straight hitters before his night ended following a two-out walk to Boston designated hitter David Ortiz.

Nuno’s night did not start promising as he walked right fielder Brock Holt but he retired second baseman Dustin Pedroia, Ortiz and first baseman Mike Napoli. The only two hits against him were a leadoff single by catcher A.J. Pierzynski in the second and a one-out double by Holt in the third.

Right-hander Brandon Workman (1-1) returned from a six-game suspension for throwing near Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria on May 30 and allowed four runs and seven hits in seven innings.

The Red Sox were shut out for the seventh time this season, did not get a runner to third and dropped to 2-6 on a 10-game road trip.

The Yankees took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Teixeira’s sacrifice fly to left field scored Jeter. New York was unable to get more as designated hitter Carlos Beltran grounded out on the next pitch.

The Yankees nearly made it 2-0 in the second inning, but Holt leapt over the top of the right field wall to take a home run away from second baseman Brian Roberts.

Johnson drove a 1-1 fastball from Workman into the right field seats for a 3-0 lead with one out in the fourth. The Yankees then went up 4-0 on a solo home run by Gardner.

NOTES: The Red Sox said OF Shane Victorino (right hamstring) and 3B Will Middlebrooks (right index finger) are shut down from baseball activities. Boston also moved LHP Felix Doubront into the rotation for the time being. … The Yankees said LHP CC Sabathia (right knee) will make a rehab start for Class A Tampa Bay on Saturday. The belief is that Sabathia will need at three starts before returning to the majors. He will begin start with a pitch count of 40 to 45 Saturday. … New York also said RHP Michael Pineda (right shoulder) will play catch Saturday, a week after his originally scheduled throwing session.